I am generally a positive person, beyond the view that the glass is half full I also envision how the fresh cool water feels as it flows into my mouth, down my throat and refreshes my entire body. I like finding the positive spin to life and it's ever surprising events.
2014 began fair enough. Youngest daughter Amanda was away from home serving an LDS mission in far away Long Beach, California. Our other seven children were all in varying stages of life and it's challenges and joys. Bruce and I became empty nesters for a moment.
Bruce and I adjusted well to just the two of us at home. We had done this before when Amanda had been attending school in Cedar City for several months during the previous year. This time it was a tiny bit different than before. I was working in my dream job as a Corporate Scrapbook Artist- at half the pay I was used to, but I was happy since honestly I would gladly do that job for free if that were realistic and Bruce had just retired on the last day of 2013. We were happy to say the least!
Bruce smiled a lot in the beginning of 2014, especially when he planned little adventures with our children and especially the grand kiddos. Bruce was enjoying serving in his church calling as Sunday School President. It was just enough responsibility to keep him busy, but not too much to make it a chore. He purchased an annual pass to the city rec center and went nearly everyday. He enjoyed the time to scan photos, create photo books, read, work on geneology, read, memorize scripture passages, watch movies, fix dinner for me and basicly take each day one at a time and enjoy the little moments.
It was early February while I was at work (I got paid for playing with paper remember) when I received a phone call from someone I had never spoken to before and was informed that my daughter Amanda would be coming home the next day. This was a surprise since the original homecoming date wasn't for another ten months. It was not a big surprise since we were aware that she was having some medical challenges.
I do not remember if I left work early or not, but there were several things I wanted to get done before we were to meet Amanda at the airport the next afternoon. Siblings needed to be notified, welcome home signs and banners made, and I had to decide if I possibly had time to put her bedroom back to how it was.
You see- very shortly after Amanda left for California her brother, Aaron and his family kinda moved in. Our guest bedroom is downstairs, which is very convenient since we also have a small bathroom and a living-room down there which makes it fairly comfortable and private for guests. We also have my craft room and a book room in the basement. There was no way I could possibly change the location of everything in my craft room so Aaron convinced me that he could move the book room upstairs (which was also where I hid all the unpacked miscellaneous boxes from our move 3 years previous) and bring Amanda's room downstairs for his three small children. Of course this made sense to put his children close to him and his wife and i consented.
Aaron organized a small army to make the room transition happen in one afternoon. Which it did, with a few minor adjustments. Not everything from the book room belonged in the book room so some of the items such as frames and art went into my craft room. Many of the unpacked packed boxes became a fortress at the bottom of the stairs and Amanda's things found places in totes and closets. Those totes ended up in my craft room. (Believe me when I say NOTHING more could fit in my craft room!) Why, do you ask, didn't anything get moved to the garage? Aaron's family belongings took up half of the garage, that's why.
We are adept at making changes and accepting inconviences and we enjoyed this experience and Bruce and I loved having grand kiddos in our home. This truly became a fun chapter in our life!
So back to the original story and dilemma- Do I stay up all night and attempt to move Amanda's room back upstairs where she left it? How she left it? Wasn't I already tired and stressed with the sudden change of her coming home? Is there even enough hours between now and then to accomplish that huge of a task? How deflating would it be to Amanda to arrive home and not feel 'at home' in her own home? Wasn't her life being changed suddenly and in an unexpected way?
I decided that there definitely was not enough hours and that I should use the time I had to make the guest room into her room. I did what cleaning and beautifying I could and with the loving help of friends we speedily made a 'welcome home' banner to string across the front of our house. :)
I felt elatedly happy that my daughter was coming home!!
Life is good and full of surprises. Good surprises!
2 B continued. Love Karen
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Masculine Page With Feathers
 | |||
| My son, Chris Huntsman with his dang cute boys! |
This page was so much fun to do since I tried so many fun techniques.
I water and ink washed the back ground wood paper,
then stitched and distressed the edges,
used Cricut to cut a background overlay,
which I inked with pigment inks and dauber
to achieve an ombre effect.
The same inking technique was used to achieve the
shaded hue on the 'also, I love you'.
And then more stitching right thru the middle of the phrase.
Rock-n-roll technique was used on the fussy cut flowers.
I used this same inking style on the feathers-
choosing both colonial white and kraft paper
added to the uniqueness of each feather.
Add a staple and tie on some bronze thread-
ta-DA! A page to show off four awesome guys!
Monday, January 20, 2014
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Monday, October 7, 2013
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Decker Family Reunion 2013
St. George, Utah July 9-16 2013
Stayed at The River Home
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Whirlwind Update
 |
| Amanda with a few of her favorite guys! Michael, Braxton, Maxwell and Caden came to visit on the Saturday before Amanda's Missionary Farewell. Chad and Katy (the boys' parents) were at a neighbors home practicing a song for Sacrament meeting the next day. They sang beautifully by the way. |
 |
| Amryn, Amanda, Addie, Ben (in front) Derek, Cooper, Jayden, Donny, and James. |
 |
| Happy to see my son Chris. :) |
 |
| Chris, Chad, and Derek. Ninja Turtles came to visit. |
 |
| So blessed to have Mark and his family visiting from Minnesota. Emma, Kristin, Kathryn and Mark. Hyrum was missing from this photo. |
 |
| Tish, Me, Nani. |
 |
| Amanda and Chris. Chris served in Catania, Italy TEN years ago! |
 |
| True personalities. |
 |
| Amanda with the Dayton's. Jon, Sam, Rachel, Sofie, and Brandon. |
 |
| My two 'Sister Deckers' Rachel served in Paris, France (at the same time Brandon served there) approx. 2000 |
 |
| A fun bunch! Chad, Abbie, Amanda, , Meagan, Nichole, Miles, . |
 |
| At my daddy's grave site. Me, Bruce and Amanda. |
 |
| Paul's kids at the grave site. |
 |
| Amanda adding a rose to the top of my dad's casket. Dad's casket was made of a beautifully polished pine wood. He always said that he wanted to be buried in a pine box. |
 |
| Bruce and Dave Poulson helping Mom back to her car after the grave site services. The weather was perfect and the rain made the colors vivid. |
 |
| Kay |
 |
| Thomas |
 |
| Yes, Why Argentina? |
 |
| Playing with Mo mo. |
 |
| Andi, Amanda, and Amber |
 |
| Bye Aunt Amanda. we will miss you! Love Ailli, Kay, and Thomas |
 |
| Amanda adores peacocks! |
 |
| A fun way to spend the last day before entering the MTC . . . The Avery with Amber and her three kids. |
On May 12th, Mother's Day, my father granted the wish my mother asked for . . . he left this earth and went to heaven. There he greeted his mother, his father and his older brother who had died this past January. Mom had already put funeral preparations in motion during the days previous. Dad had been near to dying for a while now so this isn't as odd as it may sound. Mom had determined that the most convenient day for all siblings to gather together would be on Monday May 20th. The initial time she gave me the information she mistakenly told me May 22nd. That was a moment of distress for me as that is the day Amanda was scheduled to enter the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah as a new missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints. After seeing my eyes widen my mom quickly realized that she had told me the incorrect date and assured me the funeral would be on the 20th. What a relief. Now remember that this conversation occurred the day before dad passed away. My brother-in -law Greg jokingly asked my mom if she had reserved the Chapel already? I am glad that my mom was prepared. There is always so much to do in preparation for such an event. Mom made sure things were taken care of and that not any one person had more than they could handle.
The day after my dad died I started a new job. My dream job!! I am a scrapbook artist for Close To My Heart, a stamping/scrapbooking/cardmaking company. I work in the ART STUDIO. I started a new job and was already asking for time off. Not the ideal circumstances to begin as a new employee.
One thing I have learned in this life is that even through the seemingly trying events in our lives Heavenly Father is blessing us if we will but look for the blessings and be grateful in ALL things.
Because my dad passed away on Mother's Day most of my siblings were in town and was able to attend Amanda's missionary farewell the Monday before the funeral. I can not come close to explaining the happiness and joy I felt as I watched my brothers and sisters and their families, as well as my own children, enter my home chapel to attend the Sacrament meeting that Amanda was speaking in. There were over 100 extra people who came just to see Amanda. It was very tender to see my mom arrive by herself. If my dad had still been alive my mother would not have been able to attend that day because she would have been at home with my ailing father. This was the only way that both of my parents could be there in support of Amanda and her choice to serve a mission. My dad thought of everything. He has always been very thoughtful, selfless and caring. He made this day extra memorable for me. I have always known that I am his favorite child. Dad really did this just for me.
After church the crowd moved to our home. Thanks to a couple of angels named Lori, Deena and Marissa everyone was fed and Amanda was able to visit with every person who came to wish her well.
That evening we held a viewing at the Hillcrest 6th ward church. The next day, Monday, was the funeral. All of my siblings were there. That is an exceptional feat as I have seven brothers and seven sisters. It is rare that every ones schedules coincide to be ALL together.
The following day Amanda and I spent the day together. We went to the Bird Avery in SLC. Last time to use Amanda's "pass-of-all-passes"! Amber and her three kids went with us and Andi met us there with Sophia. Another perfect day.
At nine pm Amanda, Bruce and I went to the Stake Offices to meet with our new Stake President for Amanda to be set apart as a full-time Missionary. Wonderful experience!
Wednesday I helped Amanda with the last of her packing and Bruce and I drove her to the MTC. That was a quick good-bye. One moment I hugged my beautiful and amazing daughter and the next moment I couldn't make her out in the crowd headed up the sidewalk to the MTC doors.
Wow.
By Saturday Aaron, Amber, Thomas, Kay and Ailli were moved in to live in our basement for the summer.
Life is GREAT when you look for the blessings. I am certainly blessed :)
Love Karen
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Happy 58th Wedding Anniversary 2 Dad & Mom
All mom requested of her family today was that all who could, come over and spend some time at her home today in celebration of her and dad's FIFTY-EIGHTH wedding anniversary.
There was more family there so more pictures later!
 |
| Robert and Maggie |
 |
| Cousins- Megan, Amanda, Abbie |
 |
| Tish and Megan |
 |
| Dad and I |
 |
| Nicole and Garret |
 |
| Bruce |
 |
| Becca and Belle |
 |
| Daniel King |
 |
| Brigham and Mom |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)